Sharks chase their own tails in
loss to HawksAnother 40 minute effort costs San
Jose

12/11/11 - By Mike Lee -

Just when it looked like the Sharks were about to
snap out of their funk, San Jose reminded everyone that they're just not a very
good hockey team right now. The Sharks turned in a 40 minute effort that ended
in an overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on Sunday
night to extend the doldrums that have beleaguered the team for the last two
weeks. San Jose lost for the 6th time in their past 8 games.

This was
painful because the Blackhawks scored the game tying goal with 64 seconds
remaining in regulation, then won it with 34 seconds left in overtime. In the
end, San Jose missed out on the two points in the standings because they didn't
turn in a 60 minute effort.

All you had to do was look at the box
score to see how the lopsided final last 20 minutes of regulation ended up
costing the Sharks. Chicago outshot San Jose 16-3 in the 3rd period, as the
Sharks were backed into their own end for much of the period.

San Jose
rendered a lone shot on goal in the overtime period, while their opponent put 5
pucks on net. In short, San Jose goaltender Antti Niemi was hung out to dry. He
did what he could, but he's been forced to win games single handedly by his
teammates the past two weeks.

Patrick Sharp continued his hot hand by
deflecting a Marion Hossa shot late in the extra period after the Sharks
defense imploded. The standard 4-on-4 lineup afforded the Blackhawks more room
on the ice, but the Sharks made things easier when three of the four San Jose
skaters on the ice chased Hossa toward the Sharks blueline. With no defensive
help down low, Hossa put a puck on net that Sharp was able to chip pas Niemi
for the game winner.

Chicago tied the game late in the 3rd period in
similar fashion, albeit with 5 skaters on the ice. It was a Hossa shot from the
point that beat Niemi, but rather than Sharp in front of the net, it was Andrew
Brunette who deflected the shot into the goal.

The Sharks may want to
take note, given their inability to score goals. Parking players out in front
of the goal pays dividends, but that's been a lesson that San Jose has been
insistent on ignoring.

Jamie McGinn gave his team the lead 16:25 into
the game by making a concerted effort to punch the puck past Blackhawks
goaltender Ray Emery from just outside the right post. McGinn chased a Michal
Handzus shot on net, before repeatedly whacking at it after Emery made the
initial save on Handzus.

Marcus Kruger was credited with the Blackhawks first
goal7:53 into the 2nd period, by deflecting a Niklas Hjalmarsson blast from the
blueline.

San Jose answered right back with a Justin Braun goal 1:45
later. The young defenseman took a Brad Winchester feed near the top of the
right circle, then waited for traffic to cloud Emery's view before snapping his
3rd career goal.

As has been the case all too often of late was the
absence of the Sharks big money players from the stat sheet. Joe Thornton,
Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns were all non-factors, combining
for a -3 in the game.

SHARE THIS STORY:

What did you think of
this article? Post your comments on the Feeder Forums

What did you
think of this story? Post your comments on the Feeder Forums